With P-Enj precision, Arnprior resident Ron Warburton dissected and reassembled the Town’s Waterfront Master Plan, shaving a potential twelve to fourteen years from the proposed two-decade reconstruction project while reducing costs.
Warburton and a delegation of civic associates including former Mayor David Reid presented to Council at its meeting of May 9th.
The plan would diversify a Harbourfront Master Building into a scenario with a number of amenities and attractions.
That would leave two phases of the work.
The second phase, east of the Madawaska, would see redevelopment of Hydro Park, McLean Avenue and Bell Park by 2030.
The presentation was well-received and some on Council believed long-overdue, as plans to rehabilitate the breakwater had been discussed as far back as 1987.
Incentivizing the idea is the current rate of subdivision growth fueling development charges.
Elected representatives now want to see Town Administration assess the feasibility of Warburton’s suggestions, and examine them in the context of how they may impact existing plans on the positive basis suggested.
Councillor Ted Strike suggested one of the caveats ought to be what may be Town-owned lands, and who owns the land if it is not- and which Fisheries and Oceans restrictions might imply.
Rick Stow